We have exciting opportunity here in Ojai to participate with a group eating locally for one year. Of course, this could happen anywhere but Kristofer and Joanne Young have challenged our community by seeking 100 (or more) volunteers willing to do this together. The group is just getting off the ground and has met once with about 50 interested people – people from Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Saticoy, Ventura, Santa Paula, and Ojai. Though I am not 100% certain this will happen for our family, we are giving it some serious thought. The idea came from Barbara Kingsolver’s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle where her family documents eating locally for one year. The idea is to eat food within 100 miles of our home for one year.
In Ojai, our 100 mile range is from San Luis Obispo to Delano to Irvine to out in the ocean. A wealth of crops are grown in this region and we can probably have fresh fruits and vegetables year round. I have three major areas of concern with participating. First, protein sources. As vegetarians, bordering on vegan, we need to be certain our protein needs are met from beans, nuts, soy, etc. Since many of those items may not grow around here, we may need to use one of our three exceptions for a consistent protein source. Beyond the protein, there are the things that I just like to eat. For example, I enjoy coffee, tea, bananas, pasta, bread, oatmeal, granola, rice. Today, typical meals would be
Breakfast: smoothie (soy milk, flax oil, protein powder, blueberries, strawberries) and oatmeal (with brown sugar).
Lunch: sandwich (peanut butter/jelly) or grilled cheese; corn chips; salad
Dinner: stir fry (olive oil, garlic, tofu, greens, carrots, etc.) and rice
Other: almonds, coffee, tea, cookie, granola
It seems doable. There are some processed items that would be a challenge. The bread and oatmeal could be tough. My second area of concern is a transition away from organic produce. Our family have been regular organic produce consumers for well over a decade. We are believers in buying organic and have significant problems with conventional farming (both for health reasons and environmental reasons). In this proposed diet, there will be times when we simply will not be able to eat organic. However, does the change outweigh the benefits of eating locally? Food does not need to be shipping in from thousands of miles away. Packaging of food will be close to nil.
My third area of concern is our children. Do we pursue this diet as a family or will it just be the adults? The kids are already picky eaters and this change may be too challenging and too difficult. If they were a little older it would be easier, but with their young age (they will be 5 and 8 years old) it may be too much to ask. Of course, we can try the majority of their diet locally and supplement it with other sources near and dear to their hearts.
So, why would we do this? Last year I ordered frozen strawberries through our food coop, as I often do in the winter months, and was very dismayed to read the strawberries had been grown in China. This isn’t about China, but that Ventura County (where I live) is one of the top producers of strawberries, and I don’t need strawberries from half way around the world. So, my reason is for the environment first. Others include: To support of regional economy. Because we may all be eating locally within 25 years anyway (whether we want to or not!). To build community. To know and understand our food sources.
If we are going to do this diet, starting January 1, 2009, then we need to start preparing now. Going to the Farmers Market every weeked; canning foods; buying a larger freezer to store food; keeping the garden happy and healthy; etc. Food preparation is a labor intensive process that we have lost touch with in our society.
If you live in Ventura or Santa Barbara counties, and this interests you, please visit the Eat Local, One Year web site and sign on.
Comments
13 responses to “Eat Local One Year”
now the loco-vores want data on how many loaves an acre of wheat will produce.
I planted some soybeans for some of them the other day.
Other things to plant: agave.
As for the strawberry dilemma : maybe it is about China. Product provenance in China is very sketchy. Organic certification competency is not good.
Otherwise, let them grow organic and ship organic and anyone can baile themselves out.
later
now the loco-vores want data on how many loaves an acre of wheat will produce.
I planted some soybeans for some of them the other day.
Other things to plant: agave.
As for the strawberry dilemma : maybe it is about China. Product provenance in China is very sketchy. Organic certification competency is not good.
Otherwise, let them grow organic and ship organic and anyone can baile themselves out.
later
Kenley,
Thank you for your ever-so-thoughtful consideration of our locavore project and of your/our lives on this planet!
Obviously, this project will work for some and not for others. I think you are correct; some time in the future, we may not have a choice; we may be eating local.
For me, not having small children, this feels like a relatively small challenge. Knowing each day of the suffering of others and of our ecosystem, makes my locavore job seem small and easy. (Check with me when I am whining in 2009. 🙂 )
I am thrilled with how much interest there is in this project!!!!!
I am grateful that EVERYONE can participate by doing even a small thing like eating one local meal in 2009!
Finally, I would like to state our revised goals for participation. We are looking for 100+ in Ventura County to carry out the “core” project, 100,000 in Ventura County to devise their own level of participation, 1,000,000 in California to devise their own level, and 100,000,000 in the US to devise their own level.
This project feels good to a lot of us!
In peace, health, community and action,
Kris
Kenley,
Thank you for your ever-so-thoughtful consideration of our locavore project and of your/our lives on this planet!
Obviously, this project will work for some and not for others. I think you are correct; some time in the future, we may not have a choice; we may be eating local.
For me, not having small children, this feels like a relatively small challenge. Knowing each day of the suffering of others and of our ecosystem, makes my locavore job seem small and easy. (Check with me when I am whining in 2009. 🙂 )
I am thrilled with how much interest there is in this project!!!!!
I am grateful that EVERYONE can participate by doing even a small thing like eating one local meal in 2009!
Finally, I would like to state our revised goals for participation. We are looking for 100+ in Ventura County to carry out the “core” project, 100,000 in Ventura County to devise their own level of participation, 1,000,000 in California to devise their own level, and 100,000,000 in the US to devise their own level.
This project feels good to a lot of us!
In peace, health, community and action,
Kris
Kenley,
I appreciate your post. Very thoughtful.
I am uncertain why you feel it would be more of a challenge for your kids, than you. I do understand that they are picky eaters. Perhaps, you could fill me in. I must be out of the loop for feeding kids.
Kenley,
I appreciate your post. Very thoughtful.
I am uncertain why you feel it would be more of a challenge for your kids, than you. I do understand that they are picky eaters. Perhaps, you could fill me in. I must be out of the loop for feeding kids.
I have been growing veggies in Camarillo and Oxnard,California for 25 years. I ship them to all parts of the United States and Canada.
I honestly feel sick when we load a truck that is headed to Maine or Florida or Chicago because I know many people can grow their own veggies during their gardening seasons, nationwide.
I want to help local Ojai and other Ventura County residents to learn how to grow…not just organic veggies but also… the most nutritious veggies one can grow.
I have learned a ton of useful tricks and secrets that would make home gardening a time consuming but cost cutting project…and you’ll dramatically reduce your carbon footprint.
For info, email me or call me at 805-649-2286…I’ll get you going even sooner than 2009 and you’ll be able to help others get ready for the 2009 start date.
One simple idea is to have several friends grow specific crops and trade with each other…that way each participant doesn’t have to grow every crop that they enjoy eating…then as years go by, each gardener can start to produce more and more veggies to satisfy their curiosity about growing many different veggies.
I’ve probably grown 1,000 varieties of veggies in my 25 years of farming…always looking for something more delicious depending on the season.
There is no doubt that the biggest advantage of a project like this is that gardeners can share regional ideas to maximixe the length of their growing season,depending on the climate, soil type and microclimate.
Good Luck to all that get involved in this project…can you imagine 100,000,000 people growing their own food seasonally?
I have been growing veggies in Camarillo and Oxnard,California for 25 years. I ship them to all parts of the United States and Canada.
I honestly feel sick when we load a truck that is headed to Maine or Florida or Chicago because I know many people can grow their own veggies during their gardening seasons, nationwide.
I want to help local Ojai and other Ventura County residents to learn how to grow…not just organic veggies but also… the most nutritious veggies one can grow.
I have learned a ton of useful tricks and secrets that would make home gardening a time consuming but cost cutting project…and you’ll dramatically reduce your carbon footprint.
For info, email me or call me at 805-649-2286…I’ll get you going even sooner than 2009 and you’ll be able to help others get ready for the 2009 start date.
One simple idea is to have several friends grow specific crops and trade with each other…that way each participant doesn’t have to grow every crop that they enjoy eating…then as years go by, each gardener can start to produce more and more veggies to satisfy their curiosity about growing many different veggies.
I’ve probably grown 1,000 varieties of veggies in my 25 years of farming…always looking for something more delicious depending on the season.
There is no doubt that the biggest advantage of a project like this is that gardeners can share regional ideas to maximixe the length of their growing season,depending on the climate, soil type and microclimate.
Good Luck to all that get involved in this project…can you imagine 100,000,000 people growing their own food seasonally?
😛
Eating local is the best way to promote local business.
Keep up the good work !
Dr.David Black
http://www.blackchiropractic.com.au
Eating local is the best way to promote local business.
Keep up the good work !
Dr.David Black
http://www.blackchiropractic.com.au
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